IGNOU HISTORY NOTES : History Of Modern Europe (Mid 18th to 20th Centuries)- BIRTH OF THE MODERN FRENCH STATE

IGNOU HISTORY Study Notes for IAS, UPSC Exams

History Of Modern Europe Mid 18th to Mid 20th Centuries

BIRTH OF THE MODERN FRENCH STATE

Structure

5.0 Objectives
5.1 Introduction
5.2 The Absolutist State and the Abolition of Feudal Structure
5.3 Reconstruction of France, Administrative and Legal
5.4 Religious Divide and Concordat
5.5 Mobilization of Citizens during the Terror and Napoleonic Wars
5.6 New Bureaucracy and Educational Institutions
5.7 Let Us Sum Up
5.8 Key Words
5.9 Answers to check Your Progress Exercises

5.0 OBJECTIVES

In the last Unit you have learnt about the spread of the French Revolution as movement of
politics, mass mobilization and the coming of new political ideas. In this Unit you will
study the transformation of institutions and the administrative struc,ure which brought
about the birth of the modeni nation--state. After reading this Unit you should be able to .
learn the factors responsible for the rise of French absolutism and its nature,
know the grounds for the abolition of feudal structure,
understand the process of administrative and legal transformation,
learn how religion, which had been causing social and political tension, was used as a
device for nation building, and
comprehend the strong bureaucratic structure and the educational system which had
been created as the instruments of centralized state.

5.1 INTRODUCTION

The process of centralization from the sixteenth century strengthened absolutism in France
and by the early eighteenth century the French monarchy under Louis XIV became the
model of centralized absolutism based on feudal social structures. The French Revolut~on
brought about a complete destruction of the feudal order and its state apparatus. The
National Assembly and later Napoleon worked very hard and systematically to recast the
old kingdom into a modem nation-state. Attempts were made to transform institutions.
legislation, administration, justice, bureaucracy, education, finances and even religion.
The new structurk had a popular base and thus had a lasting influence not only on ~rance
but countries elsewhere.
In Unit 4 you have seen the progress of the French Revolution and the creation of
revolutionary politics. In this Unit you will see how the revolutionary events brought out a
transformation in .the state apparatus and administrative structure. All this led to the
creation of the modem state of France.

5.2 THE ABSOLUTIST STATE AND THE ABOLITION OF FEUDAL STRUCTURE

The beginning of French absolutism can be traced directly to the threat which the peasant
revolts posed to the feudal ruling class interests. The crown intervened not only to protect
peasant property against overly harsh exploitation by the seigneurs (landlords) or to
weaken the nobility vis-a-vis the crown but also because its own strength depended upon